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4 Page 2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, September 23, 1998 Clarington Sets $ 29 Million Budget by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer Clarington Council approved its 1998 current budget on September 21, months later than has been the ease in previous previous years. Approximately $14,285,893 must be raised by means of taxation for 1998. Long-awaited tax bills arc expected to be mailed out to residents around the week of October 6th. The process was delayed, says Councillor John Mutton, due to the slow receipt of information from higher levels of government. He credits the Treasury Department for a "monumental achievement," considering the task was an exercise in unprecedented complication this year due to downloading, property assessment reform, and provincial realignment of services. (These arc known as the "Who Does What" changes). The scope of these changes renders 1998 as basically a new base year, adds Mutton. So, it is difficult to make blanket blanket comparisons against last year. Nevertheless, the budget is being termed a 'break even' budget with "no increase in total taxation in Clarington." , Some Increases There are some property owners in Clarington who may experience an increase. This will be due to reassessment, and they were probably not paying their fair share for some time, Mutton observes. Property owners who have been overpaying for years will also see adjustment through reassessment reform. There will be a phase-in for residential properties with assessment-related increases of over $500. Clarington residents will not be as hard-hit, it is predicted, predicted, as some in OshawaAVhitby where assessment values were based on old data. For that, we have to thank the foresight of Clarington council back in 1984 having courage to face reassessment then, Mutton notes. In the treasurer's reports, it's noted that the Municipality of Clarington was able to achieve a combined tax rate which is the second lowest within the Region Tax is calculated by multiplying the new current value assessment on the properly by the rale of 1.54% This rate includes the region, education and local lax impacts. More Firefighters Hired Some significant changes to the budget include provision provision for 24-hour fire protection in Courlice, with the cost to be spread over three budget years. Phase one of the program, at $100,000, provides one management position and four firefighters to be added by January 1999. The position of Chief Building Official, eliminated from previous budgets to save expenses, has been reviewed and now approved for inclusion in 1998/99 budget. CEO Bill Stockwell said: "These are the best numbers that we can come up with based on the numbers supplied by higher levels of government." The treasury report notes that because Clarington undertook undertook property reassessment in 1984, the impact on residents will be lessened. Treasurer Marie Marano says the total municipal budget is roughly $29 million. Of this, approximately $7 million is the capital portion of the budget, which is financed from a variety of sources. The remaining $22 million is the current budget and that, too, is financed from different sources. Taxation represents the major source for funding the current current budget, although other revenues come from reserves, licences, permits and user fees. I've Relocated! I've Moved! Tanya Campbell wishes to announce that she has moved to Aleen's Beauty Salon and is now taking appointments for Mon., Thurs., Fri., Sat. (905) 623-6627 jp 147 King St. E. .x X : / V- Discover the difference DUCA CREDIT UNION Oshawa and Bowmanville Branches, Manager Paul Muller 15 Charles Street 136 King St. East Phone: (905) 728-4658 Phone: (905) 623-6343 E-mail: duca.inlo@duca.com Internet: www.duca.com E P 1 c L A N A M 1 C R O N A 1 N O U G O W N E L E F JJ T R 1 E S T E A S C O T N A M E A F A R P E N 5 M T M A G 1 O H 1 O R A F T O S T A S E R E D U T E G L U T U E D E N D E R S E L 1 fl V A N V E 1 N E R R S Answers to Salurda/s Clarington/Courlice Independent Crossword Puzzle MW KU/J 5r / y » V ir* CANADIAN DIABEES ASSQF^IN ,4 Itlplo n Jr h rr ' 7 / V i $ ^ Return Empties hr a Good Cause This Saturday, Sept. 26, is the Beer Store's seventh annual fund-raising bottle drive for the Canadian Diabetes Association. If you return your empties Saturday, you can donate the refund to CDA. Last year's province-wide effort raised over $200,000 for diabetes. This year's goal is to raise $10,000 more. Above, Bowmanvillc Beer Stoic Manager Don McMurtcr accepts a return from Durham East MPP John O'Toole and Canadian Diabetes Association Durham Branch representative, representative, Jackie Hill. Clarington Council Provides $100,000 Library Threatens Reduced Hours Joe Clark Visits Durham From page 1 Minister Responsible for Constitutional Affairs. But in 1993, Clark left politics. He made the decision to return to the political arena this spring, when former federal leader Jean Charest left the Tories to become Liberal leader in Quebec. "Man for the Job" "At the end of March, if anybody had told me I'd be in Oshawa for a breakfast meeting, meeting, running for the leadership leadership of the Conservative party, I'd have thought they'd taken... leave of their senses," he laughed. Clark is one of five candidates candidates seeking the leadership of the party. Others include Michael Fortier, David Orchard, Brian Pallister and Hugh Segal. But Clark feels lie's the man for the job. "My reputation in the country gives this party a capacity it otherwise would not have to form a govern ment," said Clark. The Tories have been rebuilding since landslide losses in the last two elections. elections. The Conservatives have also been unable to come second second in an election to form the official opposition. Clark says, with his leadership, his party could return to power. "I'm not running here for the opposition ... I'm not here to mil second in the country," he said. No Alliance With Reform When asked whether he would support some form of alliance with the right-wing Reform Party, Clark was quick to say no. "We have to earn back the support of the hundreds and hundreds of people who voted Reform" in the last election, said Clark. He said the western support shown for Reform doesn't frighten him in the least. "Reform and 1 both come from Alberta. 1 was there first, and I'll be there longer," vowed the former Prime Minister, who will run in his home province during the next general election. Clark says the current Liberal government, under Prime Minister Jean Chretien, has been avoiding issues. "This is not a government that governs ... this government government consistently ducks. We are prepared to face issues in the eye, and they don't," lie said. by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer Clarington Council was not willing to run even a slim risk of library branch closings. So councillors voted on Monday to grant $100,000 to the library board. Prior to budget approval on Monday, the library board asked for $175,000, which Board Chair Rick Morrison indicated indicated was needed for a possible rent increase at the Newcastle branch and for reading materials already committed to update branch collections. Without the funding, Morrison warned that residents residents niay soon face service service cutbacks and reduced hours of operation at all four branches. He estimated a 21% reduction in overall hours based on use at Orono, Newcastle, Bowmanville and Courlice. Asked if there was any possibility that any branch might close due to funding shortfalls, Morrison responded: "We would like to keep all branches open, but we have to work within constraints." Mayor Diane Hamre insisted on assurances that no branch would close unless library use totally drops. Library statistics show membership up 40% and demand for services growing. growing. Morrison added there has been no talk at the board of closures and says the board would look at alternative steps first. "We (councillors) are all library-friendly," said Mayor Diane Hamre. Council voted to approve $100,000 to get the library through to the end of this year. Hamre wanted a full report from the library board on how the funds would be used. John Mutton, chairing part of Monday's meeting, expressed support for the library system in Clarington, but Monday's ; request left few options for councillors. Councillor Mutton urged the library board to find savings where it could in advance of requests for next year. xxixixxxiiiiiiiiiiiixixixxinxxixixinTrxT Still Lookin' Good at 40! Happy Birthday Ronn! Love, from Mom, Harold, Dad, Carolyn and the Loeliger Family. B xixxxxxxxijiixiiiixiiiiixixxixiiiiiiixxm: Happy Sweet 16 "Laurie" on Wed. Sept. 23rd Loue, from us all! ws se/- 3 * it SPECIAL ft SSBÜÜ) SU, ffll i m. ACT NOW! DON'T DELAY, THE SAVINGS ARE GREAT! UJV fujuriwjj aje Toronto line / MOTORS LTD 1 .... _ OU* & et™ 7ï««él Anniu'rsiiry 905-427-4444 ■ A GM Triple Crown Award Winning Dealership OPEN: 9-9 MONDAY TO THURSDAY; 9-5 FRIDAY AND SATURDAY HWY. *2 Q te UJ d N r$ I oc ▲ 1 1 Œ | 3 * ! 401 l -- «,'ü JL'&jJUï-sLl&Li SUA j'r - I' ».',